It will be interesting to see if the publishing industry takes the Book Design Awards more seriously this year, after the slight furore sparked by an article in the Listener in July 2003.

The 2004 judges have just been announced, with Dorothy Vinicombe, book promotions manager for the Whitcoulls group, named as convenor. (This seems to be a step up from last year, when Whitcoulls put forward their Christchurch Regional Sales Manager as a judge.)

Adrian Clapperton, an art director at magazine publishers AGM, will assist Vinicombe. The other judge is Stephen Stratford, the NZSA vice-president, author of a dozen books, and past editor of several magazines (including the AGM publication Architecture New Zealand).

The Awards will be held on 25 July 2004 and, as before, the categories will include Best book, Best cover, Best typography, and Best use of illustrations. Last year’s Best Book was Colin McCahon: A Question of Faith, published by Craig Potton and the Stedelijk Museum of Art (pictured).

Publishers are being called for entries, which must be submitted by 31 March 2004.